- - - ------- Y ---- sprouts occupy space that could be utilized by more desirable tree species. Therefore it seemed desirable to explore 

methods of destroying beech root sprouts. 

We already had some evidence that this could be done 

by putting sodium arsenite solution into parent trees: in 

1950, a few dead beech sprouts were found near large beech 

trees that had been treated with sodium arse~te solution. 

during earlier experiments. 

-I - -- -----. 

1 4 feet tall were killed near treated beech trees. In addi1 tion, three stumps of beech that had been cut 28 days preI viously were also treated. Near them, a few sprouts and 

three beech trees 8 to 10 inches d.b.h. were killed; these 

I larger stumps were at least 10 feet from the stumps. 

These observations led to a larger exploratory st;dy 

in 1951. TVJO $-acre plots were selected in a stand of mature 

beech located on the Paul Smith Experimental Forest. All 

beech trees 4 inches or more in d.b. h. xere treated. Trees 

on both plots ranged from 4 to 20 inches d.b.h. (avnra~a- 

- -- * -- 

B. Tree size and other conditions were similar on both 

plots, which were located onlv abollt. 100 fee+ anor+ 

The chemical was applied in two dosages, +.paced 14 

days apart so that some of it would be applied after the 

tree crowns had been killed. The first treatment w&s applied 

on July 18. It was the same on both plots. Holes were 

bored 4 inches apart in a ring around each tree. and about 

, -- -r ---- 

7/16 inch in diameter, and held about 9 cc. of sodium 
arse~te solution. The solution was made with equal weights 

of commercial-grade sodium arse~te powder and water. 

Two weeks later crown mortality of treated trees 

averaged 90 percent for both plots. Damage had also been 

done to 10 percent of the beech root sprouts on plot A, and 

to 21 peroent of those on plot B. Damage to the sprout foliage varif;d from a few dead leaves to complete mortality. It 

was assumed that some of the chemical had been translocated 

to the tree crowns and some to the sprouts, since damage to 

both occurred simultaneously. 

The second phase of the treatment came 2 weeks after 

the first one. This time the treatments were varied. On 

plot A, the original holes were refilled with the sodium 

arse~te solution. But on plot B, a second series of fresh 

holes were bored and filled with the solution; the new holes 

were also 4 inches apart, but these holes were placed 6 

inches below the original ones, between them, and in wood 

apparently undamaged by the first application of chemical. 

Within 3 weeks after this second application of chemical, crown mortality on the treated trees had increased by 

4 and 7 percent on plots A and B respectively. Damage to 

mot sprouts had increased by 9 percent on plot A arid 20 

percent on plot B--nearly the same amount of damage as within 2 weeks after the first application of chemical. Thus 

within 5 weeks after the first treatment, damage had been 

done to 19 percent of the sprouts on plot A and to 41 percent of those on plot B. 

Later Effects Of Treatments 

By September 19 (9 weeks after the first treatment) 

crowh mortality on the treated trees totaled 96 and 98 percent on plots A and B respectively. Damage also had occurred 

to 24 percent of the sprouts on plot A and 44 percent of 

those on plot B. By the following spring the crowns of all 

treated beech trees were dead; there was no evidence of 

recovery within the next 3 years. 

To determine the number of root sprouts affected, all 

untreated beech at least 1 foot high were examined on June 6

1952, nearly 11 months after the study began. It was easy 

to distinguish beech root sprouts frombeech seedlings: the 

seedlings had normal root systems; the sprouts did not. The 

sprout stems grew at right-angles from roots that generally 

were at least & inch in diameter. Sprouts several feet high 

had only a few small roots of their own. Most sprouts were 

2 to 4 feet high, but several were about 4 inches d.b.h.